John McPhee set for tenth Moto3 season with Max Biaggi Racing Husqvarna

John McPhee will remain in the Moto3 World Championship class for a tenth full season in 2022 after securing a new deal to join the Sterilgarda Max Biaggi Racing Husqvarna team.

One of only three British riders represented among the grand prix ranks this season, McPhee switches from Petronas Sprinta Racing - which is exiting the series - in his attempts to secure an elusive world title.

Paired with Ayumi Sasaki, the deal will see McPhee link up with double WorldSBK Champion Biaggi’s Moto3 team on KTM machinery, re-branded under the firm’s sister Swedish company, Husqvarna.

Marking his tenth full season in Moto3, McPhee can actually trace his debut back to the preceding 125GP series having made wild-card appearances in 2010. To put this into context, this was the year six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez swept to the title, while the grid also included the likes of Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team and Husqvarna Motorcycles for 2022,” said McPhee, who has achieved three Moto3 wins and scored a best overall finish of fifth in 2019.

“The team has done incredibly well in their short time in the world championship and with the likes of Max himself and Peter Öttl [Team Manager] looking after me I feel like it’s a great opportunity to really get the best from myself. 

“The FR 250 GP has been impressive this season so I’m excited to see what’s possible on board something new.”

This will be the final chance for McPhee to clinch the Moto3 World Championship title, since he will cross the maximum age threshold of 28 to be eligible for 2023.

He is the fourth British rider to be confirmed in a GP ride for 2022, together with Moto2 rider Sam Lowes (Marc VDS), plus Scott Ogden and Josh Whatley, who will line-up in Michael Laverty’s UK-centred VisionTrack Honda team.